Lacing.



G. W. PRENTIOE.

LAGING, APPLICATION FILED MY 2, 1906'.

Patented May 4, 1909a MTNESEES To all whom it mag concern:

, of Providence, in the county of Providence Fig. 4 is a viewshowing the tip partially formed;

GEORGE W. PRENTICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LACING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed May 2, 1906. Serial No. 314,809.

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRENTICE,

and State of Ithode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Lacings and I do hereby declarethe follow ing specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to'bea full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to lacingsfor shoes, corsets and the like, and more particularly to the formation of tips in which the stiffener is covered and'concealed by the fabric.

The invention consists in the employment of a metallic stiffener in the form of a staple, preferably made of wire, and the combination of the same with the fabric of the lacing toform a covered tip.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tubular lacing embodylng my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the metallic stiffener; Fig. 3 is a plan view 'of a portion of a lacing with the metallic stifiener inserted within the end of the tubular fabric;

Fig, 5 is a section on the line Fig. 4, Fig; 6 is a view showing the finished tip.

The lacing A shown in the drawing is formed of a tubular fabric, and the metallic stiffener Bis in the form of a staple, being preferably formed of wire bent into the shape shown. The stiffener or staple'B is inserted within the end of the tubular fabric, as shown in F ig. 3. One side of the fabric is then tucked down between the legs of the staple and the fabric and staple are then squeezed together laterally by means of suitable dies or otherwise, and thereby put into the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As the fabric employed for these lacing's is a braided fabric, the fabric when severed will be more or less frayed at the end with the loose ends of the threads or fibers projecting-from the body of the fabric, as shown in Fig. 4, The tip in this form is then dipped in glue or. other suitable adhesive material. If dcsired, the tip may be then subjected directly to the action of the finishing dies and the action of such dies relied upon to close to gether the frayed ends of the threads and form the lacing-tip, substantially as deform the finished end of the tip, It is preferred, however before sub'ectin the ti to i J z- I the action of the finishing dies to draw down the frayed ends ofJthe threads with the fingers or ,otherwise and then subject the tip to the ac on of the finishing dies which operate to still i' rther reduce the diameter of the tip and put it into the finished form shown in F 6. In either case the frayed ends when compacted together, either by the fingers and the action of the finishing dies or by the action of the finishing dies alone, will be held in this compacted condition. by the 'glue or other adhesive material. Preferably the i'in ishing dies are constructed to form the tips with a tapering or more or less rounded end as shown.

As will be understood, the glue or other adhesive material not only serves'to hold the frayed ends in compacted condition, but

also serves tostiifen the tip and to assist" in holding the metallic stiffener or staple inplace and adds to the finish and durability of the tip.

Flat la cings may likewise be provided, with. similar tips constructed in substantially the same manner, except that in such case the metallic stiffener or staple, instead of being inserted. Within the end of a tubular fabric, is placed upon the flat fabric and the edges of thefabric folded over and tucked downbetween the legs of the staple.

W hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lacing-tip comprisinga fabric and a staple incascd within the fabric, said staple and fabric being compressed transversely to scribed.

2. A lacing-tip com]arising a tubular fabric and a staple inserted within the tubular fabric, said staple and. fabric being compressed transversely to form the lacing-"tip, substantially as described.

8. A lacing-tip comprising a fabric and a staple incased within the fabric, said staple and fabric being com ressed transversely, and the end of the faoric being held compacted by suitable adhesive material to form the finished tip, substantially described.

' GEORGE W. illlfiNlICE. Witnesses:

' W. H THURSTON, J. ll. 'li 1U RSTON. 

